Competion themes

One of the clubs I belong to recently had for it's theme: What can you make from a construction grade 2X4X8', with one square foot of another specie of wood of your choice for decoration etc. We had platters, birdhouses, hollow vessels, and a lazy suzan won the contest. Another club I belong to is having a goblet for it's challange. Any size shape, type of material, etc. Don Hart

Orange County Woodturners has the monthly challenge as whatever technique was demonstrated at the prior meeting. Examples include: Turning Thin Bottle Stopper Under 8" Bowl "Plain" Bowl (execute a simple design well) Natural Edge Bowl Multi Axis (coming soon) Lidded box Threading Etc.

Good luck, DW

BillR wrote:

An "acorn" lidded box. Main species must be oak (of course), with any additional species, carving, as appropriate.

Michael Latcha - at home in Redford, MI

We did candlesticks (the challenge being to get two of exactly the same thing!), inside out turning, Christmas ornaments and mallets as out most successful challenges.

Robert

We did candlesticks (the challenge being to get two of exactly the same thing!), inside out turning, Christmas ornaments and mallets as out most successful challenges.

Robert

Segemented turnings? I'm not a member of a club, but I've been having fun doing those lately.

As others have mentioned, matching candlesticks are popular..

A recent challenge in our club was to turn gavels for the outgoing and new club presidents... had some really nice entries!

I think one thing that most clubs overlook is pen turning... might be an interesting challenge in there somewhere.. Mac

Thanks for all the replies.

I like the idea of this one and the one from Don Hart as the finished item is not specified but the material to be used. This should bring out the imagination and could be good fun.

We have different classes from beginner to master and reaching a balance between what is possible at the beginner end and is too easy at the master end is accomodated by this theme.

Bill you can also use the seasons and special holidays for themes, like say fruit forms this time of year, hollow or just the forms or boxes, also thank-givings time, platters and or plates, cups and saucers, or goblets, long or short with or without rings, christmas time, ornaments like angels or snowmen, trees or the balls with icicles, pierced or not and also small bird houses or in the spring at easter time it's good for eggs, hollow or colored or pierced, then there are the bowls or hollow forms, mushrooms, toys like tops or whistles or paddle boats, spoons spurtles dough rollers etc. etc etc. A demonstration the month before to give everyone an idea of how or what to do for the next month's challenge.

Have fun and take care Leo Van Der Loo

BillR wrote:

Our club (Inland Woodturners) has each challenge based on the previous month's demo. Recently we've had: Turned Spheres: softball size or smaller. Competition on rolling from a ramp, straightest, closest to a target mark across the floor. Variations in wood density can make a perfect sphere roll oddly. Fun! Anything from a single piece of a "construction grade" 4x4, up to 8' long. Miniature cowboy hats. Lidded box. Natural edge bowl. Thin-walled bowl.

Matt Heffron Inland Woodturners

Hi Bill

Yes there's also the I can't compete with so and so, so why bother, I'm never going to win.

I think it is important that you have 2 or 3 levels where let's say those that have already won first price before, go into a higher class, those with 2nd and 3th and honorable prize winnings go into another category and all others in the novice class. That way a brand new turner doesn't have to compete with a gifted accomplished turner, and all compete on a more equal level. As for complicated or uncomplicated, who's deciding what's complicated or not ???, something simple for one, might be a real challenge for the next one. Of course you can set sizes, like a box with dimensions not to be exceeded, then leave it up to the person to rise to the challenge, that's where most people will try to do the best to their abilities, IMO. Take the box example, one will try just a good fitting and finished box and the next will do inlay into that or some other fancy enhancement, coloring or chatter work etc. , just give them a chance to show what they can do, and a small $$ prize or ribbon for encouragement. Give people a chance to explain their special things that they have done or tried before a winner is chosen, and peoples choice is preferred over and above "experts" IMO.

Have fun and take care Leo Van Der Loo BillR wrote

Hey Bill... I forgot a biggie!

One of the most successful challenges in terms of number of folks responding was a tool handle... Entries ranged from a branch with a nail pounded in it to a segmented 18" handle with shop made brass ferrule... the whole range was covered and there were "prizes" for best, practical, ugly, etc... What was fun is that the president picked 3 spouses from the back of the meeting and had them judge them..

Mac

browse over to

- browse to the newsletters - I have several years on line - you can see what we have used in the past - contests like spinning tops and round balls seem popular

Thanks. I will take a look.